Load-puller for inclined bridges, &amp;c.



PATENTED AUG. 29, 1905.

E. ROBERTS. LOAD FULLER FOR INGLINED BRIDGES, 8:0.

2 SHEETS-BEBE! 1 IN-ENTOR- arfiaberia APPLIOATIQN FILED APB. 19,1905.

\gZITNl-ISSEIS: 7 77 Jd UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIoE.

EDGAR ROBERTS, OF EAST ST. LOUIS, ILLINOIS.

LOAD-FULLER FOR lNCLlNED BRIDGES, 81.0.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 29, 1905.

Application filed April 19, 1905. Serial No. 256,449.

Pullers for Inclined Bridges, Viaducts, and

other Roadways, of which the following is a specification containing afull, clear, and exact description, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

My invention relates to a load-puller for inclined bridges, viaducts,and other roadways, and has for its object the provision of a simple andeasily-operated mechanism arranged beneath the surface of the ground oninclined roadways for pulling loaded trucks or wagons up to the top ofthe incline.

My improved apparatus is particularly intended for use at adjacentlevees or docks where boats are unloaded and also around freight-depotsand the like, or it may be arranged upon any street Where there is asharp incline and over which there is considerable hauling of heavyloads.

To the above purposes my invention consists in certain novel features ofconstruction and arrangement of parts that will be hereinafter fullyshown, described, and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal section taken through theconduit in which my improved apparatus is located. Fig. 2 is an enlargedside elevation of an automatic dog or hook made use of in carrying outmy invention. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the dog or hook seen in Fig. 2and the chains to which said hook is secured. Fig. 4 is an enlargeddetail section taken approximately on the line 1 4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 isan end elevation of the type of dog or engaging hook that is used inconnection with a single endless chain.

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawings, 1 indicates theconduit, which is of any suitable size and shape, constructed just belowthe surface of the earth and provided with the cover 2, in which isformed the elongated slot 3, that necessarily extends from the rear endof the conduit to the upper end thereof.

Arranged for rotation in suitable bearings at each end of the conduitare transverselyarranged shafts 4:, one or both of which may be drivenin any suitable manner. Fixed on each shaft is a pair of sprocket-wheels5, and traveling around each corresponding pair of sprocket wheels arethe suitable links or sprocket-chains 6. Suitably located immediatelybeneath the, portions of the sprocketchains which are immediatelybeneath the slot 3 are tracks 7, that are supported by transverseangle-bars 8. The tracks 7 are preferably provided withant-ifriction-rollers 9, on which the chains ride. A series ofsprocket-wheels 10 are journaled on transversely-arranged shafts 11 inthe lower portion of the conduit, over which the sprocketchains travelin passing from the upper pair of sprocket-wheels 5 to the lower pair.These sprocket-wheels 1O sustain the Weight of the chain and prevent anysag thereof.

Pivotally held by means of pins 12 between certain links of the pair ofsprocket-chains 6 are hooks 13, that are of such a length as that theywill extend upwardly through the slot 3 in the top of the conduit whentraveling from the lower end thereof to the upper end, and said hooksare provided with integral rear- Wardly-extending arms 14, to the rearends of which are journaled the bearing-rollers 15. Located between thetracks 7 and supported by the cross-bars 8 and immediately'beneath thepath of travel of the hooks 13 is a single track 16, upon which therollers 15 travel when thehooks are moving upwardly through the conduit.

Rotatably positioned upon the pins 12, on each side of each hook 13, arethe rollers 17, that are adapted to bear against the-under side of thetop 2 of the conduit when the hooks are traveling from the lower to theupper end of said conduit. At a point adjacent the upper end of theconduit just in front of the upper pair of sprocket-wheels 5 the track16 is bent downwardly, as indicated by 18, in U shape, this being thepoint where the hooks 13 automatically disengage from the chains orcables that are connected to the trucks or wagons that are being pulledup the incline.

In the modifications seen in Fig. 5 the hooks 13* are bifurcated attheir lower ends, as indicated by 13,and are pivotally mounted upontransverse pins 13", that are carried by a single chain. When thisconstruction of a hook is made use of, the bifurcated lower ends 13 areprovided with antifriction-rollers 13 at their lower ends and withsimilar antifrictionrollers 13 at their upper ends, these rollers takingthe place of the rollers 15 and 17 previously described.

In the operation of my improved load-puller the shafts 4 are driven inany suitable manner, and as a result thereof the sprocket-chains ICC 6are driven by said sprocketwheels and travel throughout the conduit indirections indicated by the arrows in Fig. 1. As the hooks 13 pass tothe upper side of the lower pair of sprocket-wheels 5,the upper ends ofsaid books will travel upwardly through the slot 8, and as the rollers15 pass onto the track 16 said hooks will be held in an upright positionand the rollers 17 will ride immediately against the under side of thetop 2 of the conduit adjacent the slot therein. The chains or cables,such as A, Fig. 1, that are secured at one end to the loaded trucks orcarriages are now engaged at their opposite ends to said hooks, and asthe apparatus continues to operate the loaded trucks or carriages arepulled to the top of the incline, where they are to be unloaded or takenaway in the usual manner. When the hooks reach the upper end of theconduit, they automatically disengage themselves from the chains orcables, for the reason that said hooks swing backwardly and downwardlythrough the slot 3 as the rollers 15 pass downwardly into the U'-shapebend 18 in the track 16.

An apparatus of my improved construction can be made of any size and canbe adapted for use either in a warehouse or upon any incline where it isnecessary to pull heavy loads from the bottom to the top thereof, andsaid apparatus possesses superior ad vantages in point of simplicity,durability, and general efficiency.

I claim 1. In an apparatus of the class described, a pair of endlesschains arranged for operation in an inclined conduit; hooks pivotallyheld between certain links of the sprocket-chains; a track supported inthe top portion of the conduit on which the lower ends of the hookstravel, and there being a U-shaped bend in said track adjacent the upperend of the conduit in which the bearing ends of the hooks drop in theirtravel with the chains; substantially as specified.

2. In an apparatus of the class described, a pair of endless chainsarranged for operation in an inclined conduit; a pair ofsupportingtracks arranged inthe top portion of the conduit forsupporting the chains in their travel upwardly through the conduit;hooks pivotally arranged between certain of the links of saidsprocket-chains; a track in the top por tion of the conduit on whichsaid hooks travel, and there being a U-shaped bendin said track adjacentthe upper end of conduit into which the lower ends of the hooks drop intheir travel with the chains; substantially as specified.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, a pair of endlesssprocket-chains arranged for operation in an inclined conduit; tracksfor said chains arranged in the upper portion of the conduit forsupporting the chains in their travel upwardly through said conduit; aseries of sprocket-wheels arranged in the bottom of the conduit forsupporting the chains in their travel downwardly through the conduit; atrack supported between the chains in the upper portion of the conduit,and having a U-shaped bend near the upper end of the conduit; hookspivotally arranged between certain links of the chains and rollerscarried by the lower ends of said hooks, which rollers travel on thesingle track; substantially as specified.

In testimony whereofI have signed my name to this specification inpresence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDGAR ROBERTS.

'Witnesses:

MARTIN P. SMITH, EDW. M. HARRINGTON.

